It was so odd to suddenly be setting the table for one extra person, but Jessie was doing it.

Running on two hours of sleep stolen on an empty ER bed, she had to make her home functional before her next shift. If she were lucky, she'd be able to catch a few more hours of precious sleep.

Julia giggled in her high chair as Jessie opened the fridge to search for fresh milk. It might qualify her as a terrible mother, but Robin was getting cereal.

"Do you need any help?"

Jessie jumped as Maxi Grant made her presence known. They'd brought her in last night practically by force and sent her off to bed after Jimmy briefed her in on the rules.

"No, that's okay," Jessie said. "Coffee?"

"Yes, please." Maxi sat down and eyed Julia wearily, as if the little girl was likely to jump on her and demand affection.

Jessie poured her a cup and placed it in front of her. "That's Jimmy's usual seat. If you don't mind..." She pointed to the other side of the table.

Maxi lingered for a moment as if she wanted to protest, but moved. Now she was right across the table from Julia.

"You're dressed for work," she observed, since Jessie still had her purple scrubs on.

"I actually just got off work. I'll be tucking in after breakfast." She caught Maxi gazing at Julia again. "Don't worry, we meant what we said last night. You are definitely not required to look after the kids."

"But who will while you sleep?"

"We'll be taking them to Sam and Christine's for school, so don't worry about it."

Maxi nodded, gazing around the kitchen as if looking for something to criticize. Jessie clenched her jaw because there was a lot of that. Cabinet doors stood open and cereal and fruit filled the counter. But they'd always lived a bit on the run and they were okay with it. Maxi's opinion didn't matter. At least that's what she told herself as she focused on preparing Jules' fruit mush. She put the plastic bowl in front of her daughter, then got working on Robin's cereal bowl.

"What's Jimmy having for breakfast?" Maxi asked.

"I don't know, I'll ask when he gets here."

"Don't you discuss these things?"

Yes, because they actually had the time to discuss meal plans in advance. Jessie turned and placed the cereal bowl on the table a little too hard. "Look. No offense, but I never put food on the table for Jimmy and let it wait for him. He's a grown man who knows what he wants."

"I didn't mean it like that," Maxi backtracked. "It's just a sign of affection."

"Is that what you did for Mr. Grant?"

Maxi flinched, but gained her composure almost instantly. "For a long time, I prepared breakfast for my entire family."

"Well, that's not necessary here." Jimmy joined the party, Robin in his wake.

"Mommy, I brushed my teeth by myself today," he announced, taking up his chair.

"That's great to hear, sweetheart." Jessie leaned over and kissed the top of his head. "Now eat your cereal."

"Want toast, Sunshine?" Jimmy asked, already heading for the toaster. He stopped on the way to plant a short kiss on her lips.

"Not in front of the children," Maxi hissed.

"Why is grandma here?" Robin asked.

"Apparently to be bossy," Jimmy said in a sing-song voice. "So? Toast?"

"Yes, please." Jessie wasn't sure whether to laugh or be mortified by all this. "Toast for you?"

"I guess," Maxi said, sounding a bit uncertain.

Jessie tried to ignore the obvious awkwardness and focused on her kids. Robin kept going on about a game he and Alex made up and she just nodded and smiled while she fed Jules the bit of mush she hadn't been able to eat up herself using mostly her hands. When Jimmy placed a plate full of butter toast with grilled cheese in front of her together with a mug of coffee with milk, she could cry of relief.

"Now that you're done, why don't you take your sister into the living room and play before I take you to Christine's?" Jimmy said, placing another plate in front of Maxi and taking Julia down from her high chair.

"Okay." Robin took his sister's pudgy hand and led her out of the room.

Jimmy leaned against the counter holding up his own plate and the minute the kids were out of earshot, he glared at his mother.

"Let's go over the rules again," he said, his voice even. "You're here for protection."

"Yes, I know that, but--"

"You're not here to help us. You're not here to give advice."

"Jimmy, I am your mother, and--"

"No."

The word was calm but managed to shut Maxi up. Jessie felt the need to stand from the table and go to him, but didn't want to get in the middle of this. She was grateful when he stepped next to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"As I said last night, you are not required to babysit. You are not required to cook or clean for us. I do, however expect you to look after yourself. We both work crazy hours and don't have a maid."

"Jimmy." Jessie placed her hand over his. "I don't mind making breakfast for your mom."

"Sure, if we're all here, of course we're going to look after each other and eat together." He glared at Maxi some more. "But don't expect service. And don't guilt Jessie for not laying food on the table for me. We cook together, for each other, and it's the way it works."

"I just thought--" Maxi stammered.

"I know what you thought," Jimmy said dismissively. "That she's not taking care of me. But she doesn't have to. We're a family. We take care of each other."

"Times have changed, Mrs. Grant," Jessie said. "And how we run our family works for us."

"Including the PDA in front of the kids," Jimmy pointed out.

"Because that's the most we do in front of them," Jessie added before Maxi could explode into a tirade of protests. "They need to know that we love each other."

Maxi pursed her lips looking like a blonde bullfrog, but didn't comment any further. Jessie was glad because she really didn't want to point out how she and Freider hadn't exactly been the best example for their kids in terms of affection. Poor Sam and Jerry had had a mountain of intimacy issues to get over until they finally became comfortable with relationships.

"So what am I supposed to do here?" Maxi finally asked.

"Go about your day as usual. Work, shop online, watch movies, whatever." Jimmy shrugged. "Just don't go outside unless someone is with you."

"No offense, but I think if someone wanted to kill me, they could do it with you next to me as well."

"No offense," Jimmy retaliated. "But we're a lot more aware than you are, so allow me to disagree."

"Why are you a lot more aware?"

"You're not here to ask questions either."

"The thing is," Jessie cut in before Maxi could retaliate, "we're doing this for your own good. And we do hope it's temporary."

"Why is this happening?" Maxi asked after a few moments of silence.

"We don't know," Jessie whispered.

"You might, though," Jimmy pointed out. "But you refuse to share. And while we're on the subject, if you're going to start grilling Jessie about Kyle, I'm locking you up in the basement."

"Jimmy!"

"Yeah, your motherly outrage doesn't work on me." He shrugged and leaned over to plan another kiss on Jessie's lips. "I'm going to take the kids to Sam's. Then I'll swing by the office for a bit then home. Try to get some sleep." And whistling like nothing happened, he propped his plate in the dishwasher, then headed out.

Jessie continued to munch on her toast, the awkwardness digging into her bones. Maxi didn't say anything, just sipped her coffee, her plate of food untouched.

"Doesn't he scare you?" she asked all of a sudden.

"Jimmy?" Jessie asked incredulously, because that had to be the dumbest question in the universe. "Why would he scare me?"

"He's just so..."

"Uninclined to take other people's bullshit?"

Maxi heaved a deep sigh. "Why must you all be so...?"

"Plastic? Crude? Honest?"

"Much," she said instead. "I will stay out of your way. Despite what all of you may think, I don't want to impose or aggravate you. I'm just hurt. And I thought I would get some understanding from at least some of you."

"You would've gotten it if you hadn't crossed Kay at the funeral."

Jessie's words had Maxi wincing. "Yes, I know. I was just in so much pain. I still am. You don't know what it's like to lose a child." She glanced towards the door even if Jimmy had most likely already left with the kids. "And I honestly hope you never do."

That was oddly sweet of Maxi. Jessie wasn't convinced that she was being honest and that this wasn't some ploy to soften her up for information, but she decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"We're sorry it has come to this and that you have to stay here, but I hope you understand."

Maxi nodded. "I do. After what happened to Grace, Bill and now Ron... It was a reasonable assumption that I would be next."

"But you don't think you are," Jessie said carefully.

She shook her head. "Not if it's Snitch Gravel."

"You think it might not be Snitch Gravel."

"Not him personally, at least."

Jessie had to give it to Maxi because she agreed. She didn't think it was Snitch Gravel personally either, but wouldn't put it past Von Crooken. Maxi sensed that, even if she had no idea about the Agency.

"Whoever it is, the boys don't need to lose more family," Jessie said.

Maxi nodded again. "I agree. They've been through a lot. You all have. I just..." She bit her lip. "I want to thank you. Because even if Jimmy obviously doesn't like me, I'm glad you managed to make him happy. And your kids are adorable." She sat up and placed her mug in the dishwasher, then let herself out of the room.

Jessie watched her go, feeling a bit better. Maybe having Maxi there didn't have to translate into constant war.

🧭

Kay hated the idea of being in the same house as Maxi, but she'd dropped her kids off with Jimmy for the day and had to pick them up. For the first time in weeks, she'd also be going to her own place to sleep since Jessie no longer had the spare room available.

The thought scared her more than she cared to admit and looking back, she couldn't believed she'd managed to avoid it for so long. But it was time to take this step towards healing as well. She could do it. She was strong enough.

Except the moment she stepped into Jessie's kitchen, she felt like crying. Jessie was still in her scrubs, gathering the plates after dinner. Fortunately, she was alone.

"Did Maxi eat with you?" Kay asked.

"Oh, hi. You're here." Jessie stuffed the plates in the dishwasher and turned it on. "Not this time. She said she's watching her figure so no eating after seven pm."

"Huh." Maxi did look remarkably well for her age. "So, how's it going."

"Better than expected, really." Jessie straightened and stretched. "She mostly keeps to herself."

"What about the kids?"

"She actually read them a story today, and that was it. Best fifteen minutes of the day."

Kay grinned. "What did you and Jimmy do in those fifteen minutes?"

Jessie giggled. "Didn't get to do much really, but it's sometimes fun to feel like teenagers again. The thing is, she's been listening so far and now being a right pain."

"Huh." Kay didn't want to be mean, but she had a bad feeling about it. Like Maxi was maybe lulling them into a false sense of security just so she could hit them when they were vulnerable. A frightening idea came to her. "You don't think she might have said something to Robin about Kyle, do you?"

Jessie froze in the process of making formula for Jules. "I highly doubt it. She knows Robin would tell and Jimmy would tear her a new one. She's a bit scared of him, really."

Kay let out a long breath. "Yeah, I think you're right. I just..." The feeling inside her chest was so hard to identify and express, but she had to at least try to say it. "I'm so thankful for Jimmy. I feel like he took it upon himself to protect us all."

Jessie smiled, but it was sad. "I know. He feels like it's his job to replace Kyle and make everyone feel safe. As much as he doesn't want to and resents it."

Of course he did, because Kyle had never really enjoyed his spot either. Never wanted to be the head of the clan, a leader, even if he was so good at it. Even if Sam had always been the leader, it was Kyle who made everyone feel safe. And now Jimmy.

"Where are the kids?"

"In the training room with Jimmy."

The words made Kay's skin crawl even if she knew it was necessary. It was maybe harsh, but they'd started training their kids as soon as they'd started walking properly. Minor stuff at first, moving forward to more complicated tests and exercises. Because they didn't kid themselves. They knew the kids would need it. And they had all seen the difference Kyle's training had made.

"I'd come with you," Jessie said, "but I still have to do some laundry."

"It's okay. I'll just get the kids and we'll be out of your hair."

"Kay, no." Jessie walked over and grasped her shoulder. "I'd much rather have you than that woman here. Honestly."

Kay forced a smile on her face. "I know that, Jessie." But this also reminded her to get out of there before Maxi started sniffing around.

So she headed for the back room where Jimmy had the training equipment. She opened the door, but didn't enter, not wanting to disrupt their training.

Jimmy was on his knees, sparring with Jenny while Alex and Robin were practicing with tiny staffs. They'd all agreed to teach them how to fight with weapons they could pick off the ground, but it still sent a pang through Kay's heart every time she had to witness it.

As if to spite her, Robin got around Alex's defenses and jabbed the end of the staff into his stomach.

"Ow," Alex moaned, tears filling his eyes. "I don't want to play with you anymore."

Jimmy turned to them and Jenny was a second away from slamming his tiny fist into his jaw. But his reflexes saved him and he caught her hand.

"Nice job, Jenny," he said, "but give me a moment." He got to his feet and picked up the staff Alex had tossed to the floor.

"I didn't hit you that hard," Robin complained. "Daddy, I really didn't." He looked up at Jimmy, obviously hoping for confirmation.

"No, you didn't. And even if you did, you weren't supposed to land a hit." Jimmy reached out the staff to Alex. "You're falling behind."

Alex crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. "I don't want this anymore."

Kay's entire body ached and it wasn't only sadness, but a bit of annoyance as well. At their fate, at the fact that Alex couldn't afford not to want it anymore.

Jimmy obviously felt the same because he used the staff to trip Alex and send him to the floor.

"You're mean," he moaned, tears in his eyes.

"Get up," Jimmy said, his tone lacking any mercy.

"I said I don't want to play anymore."

"This isn't playing. It's training. Now get up before I smack you with the staff."

"No!"

"Three, two, one..."

Alex rolled out of the way a second before the staff would have connected with his butt. He got to his feet, but Jimmy tripped him again.

"Leave me alone!"

"Get up, Alex."

"No! I don't want to train with you. You're mean. I want my daddy!"

The words tore through Kay and tears filled her eyes. A part of her wanted to step in, but that would make Alex even whinier and she sure as hell didn't want that. Jimmy was right. They couldn't afford him falling behind.

Jimmy dropped the staff, knelt and picked Alex up, placing him on his feet. Then he squeezed his shoulders and stared him straight in the eyes.

"Your daddy was phenomenally good at this. And I know he trained you well. Just because he's not here right now doesn't mean you can afford to slack off. He wouldn't want you to. He'd want you to be the best. Just like he was the best."

Tears streamed down Alex's face and he sniffed. "But I miss him. And I don't want to train anymore."

"We all miss him, buddy. But he'll be back. And he'll be so proud of you. We can't stop this. Because as you grow, things will get harder. And it will be up to you to protect yourselves. Protect each other." He looked at Jenny and Robin, too. "You have to understand that, for now, it's up to the three of you to protect the others."

"Sammy is oldest," Jenny said.

"Yes, but Sammy has her strengths while you have yours." Jimmy suddenly looked exhausted. "It's always going to be you. And Jules when she's old enough. And..." His eyes drifted towards the door and Kay knew.

And her unborn child. Because they had the serum, and even if it hadn't manifest yet, they were all sure it would. So it was up to them to learn how to master it and used it.

"Mommy!" Jenny cried, running to Kay and hugging her legs.

"Hi," Kay rubbed her daughter's back, but her eyes were on her son. "Jimmy's right, Alex. Even if this isn't ideal or easy, it's what we have to do."

"I'm sorry," Alex whispered.

Kay opened her arms and received him. "It's okay to not want it, to be tired of it. Unfortunately, you will get hurt if you don't do this."

"Daddy will protect us," Jenny said. She bit her lip as if realizing that Kyle wasn't there and hadn't been for a long time. It probably felt like forever to them. "And Jimmy."

"We will all protect you." Jimmy came to them, holding Robin's hand. "But we won't always be with you. And when we're not, we want you to be safe. Understood?"

The three kids nodded and Kay just wanted to die. They thought they could do this, but it was so hard to know their kids were in constant danger. That they had to be soldiers as soon as they'd learned how to walk.

"Why don't the three of you go say goodbye to Grandma?" Jimmy asked.

The kids nodded and headed out, leaving Kay alone with Jimmy.

"I'm sorry," he said, "but I have to be--"

"It's okay. Kyle wouldn't have left him to wallow in self-pity either. And you're right. He really is falling behind."

"Jenny has great potential though. And so does Alex. He's just more..."

"Childish?"

"He's not even four yet, Kay."

"I know." And it was breaking her into pieces. But Jimmy knew that and it wasn't what she wanted to say. "Thank you. I've been so out of it I haven't even considered training them myself."

Jimmy wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her against him. Kay hated herself for how comforting it felt, for how much it reminded her of Kyle. She gritted her teeth. Even if it had been weeks, she still found Kyle is everything, tried to see bits and pieces of him, as if she could put him back together is she gathered enough.

"You have other things on your plate right now," Jimmy said. "I'll take care of their training. And I'll start teaching them how to calm themselves, too. I have no idea when the serum will start manifesting, but I want them to be ready."

"Do you think we should tell them the truth?"

He sighed. "I don't know. Sometimes I think we should. But then I just want them to be normal kids for a little while longer. As normal as they can be anyway."

Kay let out a long breath as well. She felt the exact same way. It was maybe why she didn't want to tell them about Kyle either. Not yet. Just another day. And another, and another. Maybe if she didn't say it, it wouldn't be true.

"Want me to take you guys home?" Jimmy asked, giving her another squeeze.

"No, I have my car. It's just..."

He nodded, obviously understanding. "You'll be fine, Kay. We all will. We have to be."

She nodded, trying to hold in more tears. Yes, she would be. After all, it was just sleeping in her bed. Nothing else.

But that night, it didn't go as planned. She allowed the kids to sleep in her room, wishing their tiny bodies would fill the empty space. But after the kids asked to be taken to their own room to sleep there and she remained alone in her huge bed, she almost broke down.

It still smelled like Kyle, felt as if he'd just gone to the kitchen for water of something and all she had to do was wait for a moment and he'd be there to take her in his arms. Hold her against him, kiss her hair, tell her that he loved her. She ended up staring at the photo he'd left her for hours, taking in every line of his face, terrified that time would betray her and she would forget him.

There was no forgetting him. She couldn't and she didn't want to.

But that didn't mean she could freeze time. As she lay down wrapped in her memories, she swore to herself that she'd be more strict with Jenny and Alex. Yes, it sucked, but they had to be prepared.

After all, they were children of war, and no amount of denial was going to change that.

She wouldn't fail her children. She would do better.

She wouldn't end up like Maxi Grant.

🧭🧭🧭

This is a little bit slower, I know, but after all the rushing, I thought you could use the tiny break. See how things are going, see more of Maxi who appears to have calmed down a little.

Also, it was obvious that they would start training the kids, because Kyle was an obvious success. It's just maybe a bit harder. They have to see this and force them to grow up.

Oh, well... Let's get going. You know you're getting another Kyle and Snitch chapter next! Vote and comment for support!